Title and statement of responsibility area
Title proper
General material designation
- Textual record
Parallel title
Other title information
Title statements of responsibility
Title notes
- Source of title proper: Title based on contents of fonds.
Level of description
Repository
Reference code
Edition area
Edition statement
Edition statement of responsibility
Class of material specific details area
Statement of scale (cartographic)
Statement of projection (cartographic)
Statement of coordinates (cartographic)
Statement of scale (architectural)
Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)
Dates of creation area
Date(s)
-
1885 - 1942 (Creation)
- Creator
- Burrill, Field Family
Physical description area
Physical description
50 cm textual records
Publisher's series area
Title proper of publisher's series
Parallel titles of publisher's series
Other title information of publisher's series
Statement of responsibility relating to publisher's series
Numbering within publisher's series
Note on publisher's series
Archival description area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Burrill, Emerson Luther 1886-1951
Burrill, Myrtle Irene Field 1887-1980
Field, Violet Scipeo 1896-1975
Emerson L. Burrill was born 30 Aug 1886 in Burgessville, Oxford County, Ontario, to Rebecca Burkett and Charles Burrill. He was the youngest of twelve children.
He grew up in southern Ontario, including the Oxford County and Beamsville areas. Emerson became a commercial teacher and in 1917, enlisted in the Canadian military in Ottawa. He was made a Corporal (No. 2098948) and assigned to No. 3 A.M.C. Training Depot (CEF). Over the next two years he encountered medical problems and was sent to the Queen's Military Hospital in Kingston, Ontario. He did not serve overseas. Emerson was discharged from the military on 7 Nov 1919.
Emerson Burrill next headed to western Canada. He worked in Vancouver, as a chiropractor, from 1921 to about 1925. However, this was a time before the medical practice was regulated and anyone who worked in the health care field, but was not a M.D., called themselves a chiropractor.
By the 1930's, Emerson went to Alberta. In 1934 Emerson L. Burrill married Myrtle I. Field in Edmonton. Emerson worked as a clerk at the Hotel Macdonald, and later for the CNR. Given the amount of music sheets in the fonds that have his signature, it is assumed that he was very musical.
Emerson L. Burrill died 15 Sep 1951 in Edmonton.
*
Myrtle Irene Field was born 23 Nov 1887 to Lydia Jane (Jennie) Phillips and James William Field in Teeswater, Ontario. Myrtle had three siblings - Thomas Harold, Ethel Louella and Alfred. By 1916, the family was living in Edmonton, Alberta. Myrtle was working as a teacher.
In 1934, Myrtle Irene Field married Emerson L. Burrill, in Edmonton. Myrtle Field Burrill was the proprietress of Field's Pharmacy on Fort Road. Given the amount of music sheets in the fonds that have her signature and annotations, it is assumed that she was very musical.
Myrtle Irene Field Burrill died 22 May 1980 in Edmonton.
*
Violet Scipeo Field was born about 1896 in Bacup, Lancashire, England to Edith and Rev. Thomas Boulanger Field.
By the 1920's Violet was working in London, England as a secretary at the Chelsea Hospital for Women. In late 1924, Violet Scipeo Field married Dr. Thomas H. Field in Middlesex, England. In early 1925, Violet moved to Edmonton to be with her husband.
Dr. Thomas H. Field, brother of Myrtle Field (above), was a prominent Edmonton surgeon, and at one point, was the President of the Alberta College of Physicians and Surgeons. Dr. Thomas and Violet S. Field had two children, Yvonne and Derek.
Violet Field, now known primarily as the second alderwoman of Edmonton, was also known as one of Edmonton's leading club women, and a strong advocate for social and welfare reform. Her involvements included being President of the Women's Canadian Club and Victorian Order of Nurses, chair of the Northern Alberta Division of the Navy League and the Red Cross. She served on Edmonton City Council in 1952-1953, and served as acting mayor in the absence of Mayor Hawrelak in 1952. Violet S. Field was also an accomplished pianist.
Dr. Thomas H. Field died in 1950. Violet Scipeo Field died 17 Dec 1975. They are buried in the Edmonton Cemetery.
Custodial history
Much of the records belonged to Emerson Burrill and Myrtle Field Burrill before their marriage. It is assumed that once married, and certainly after Emerson's death in 1951, their records were combined.
It is suspected that Myrtle Field Burrill inherited the musical records of her sister-in-law, Violet S. Field, following Violet's death in 1975.
It is not known how Beatrice Dunn acquired the records following Myrtle Field Burrill's death in 1980.
Scope and content
The fonds consists of sheet music belonging to various members of the Burrill and Field famiilies, but mostly Emerson L. Burrill and his wife, Myrtle I. Field Burrill.
Most pieces are annotated with initials or signatures: E.L. Burrill, E.L.B., Myrtle Field, M.I Field, or M.I. Burrill. A few pieces, annotated Ethel L. Field, are assumed to belong to Myrtle's sister, Ethel Louella Field.
Other pieces have no initials, signatures or annotations. It is possible, perhaps likely, that these pieces belonged to Violet S. Field.
The music is mostly sacred and spiritual, but also includes popular and patriotic works.
Note: the annotation on some Burrill pieces appears as if it could be E.S. Burrill. However it is suspected to be a short-hand fancy script for E.L. Burrill. The handwriting is identical and there are no other Burrill family members with the initials 'E.S.'.
Notes area
Physical condition
Immediate source of acquisition
This fonds was donated to the City of Edmonton Archives by Beatrice Dunn in 1980.
Arrangement
The material was arranged by the archivist by publisher, then by music genre.
Language of material
- English
- French
- German
- Italian
Script of material
Location of originals
Availability of other formats
Restrictions on access
There are no restrictions on access.
Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication
Copyright may apply.
Finding aids
Finding aid available online.
Associated materials
Accruals
No further accruals are expected.
General note
Accession number: A80-121
General note
Formerly known as Violet Sciepo fonds.
Physical description
Some of the records are fragile, crumbling, significant tears.
Alternative identifier(s)
Standard number
Standard number
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Control area
Description record identifier
Institution identifier
Rules or conventions
Rules for Archival Description (RAD)
Archives Society of Alberta Subject Terms